One of my New Year's resolutions was to run a half marathon. About 2 months ago, I signed up for a 10k and I have been training for that. My 10k race is in a little less than 3 weeks away and I am feeling pretty good about it. But running a 10k was not my goal. My goal was a half marathon, which is more than twice as far.
So today I took a leap of faith and registered myself for the Top of Utah Half Marathon in August. That gives me a little over 3 months to continue training and get myself ready. I think it'll be hard, but I'm prepared to do this. I'm excited to get this crossed off of my list!
Monday, May 21, 2012
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Oh Happy Day!
I've been wanting to get my body fat percentage tested for quite some time. I have a scale that supposedly measures body fat, but it is extremely inaccurate. However, I still keep track of it just to evaluate trends and to make sure it is going down.
In January, at the beginning of my journey, I had it tested using one of these:
In case you are not familiar with body composition, ideal BF% for a female is 18-22%.
To give you an idea of what I was expecting....
-In January, my scale said I was 44% body fat...eek!
-In January, the Omron hand held device said my body fat was 37%
So I discovered my scale was anywhere from 4-7% off.
Yesterday morning my scale said I was 34% body fat. So I figured my real percentage had to be in the upper 20s. I don't think I've ever had my BF% less than 30, so my goal was for it to be 29 or less. I would've been THRILLED with anything less than 30.
So we did the analysis...and I got SHOCKING results...
My body fat percentage is: 21.8%!!!!!
I am seriously doubting the accuracy of that bod pod! I NEVER would have guess that it was that low! Still in disbelief, I quickly grabbed an Omron and used that to see if it was way off. Yesterday, the Omron said my percentage was 25%. A little difference between it and the bod pod, but not a questionable amount. Either way, my body fat is 25% or less!
Oh happy day!
In January, at the beginning of my journey, I had it tested using one of these:
 |
| Omron hand held device |
Now these are much more reliable than my scale, but still not the most accurate method. My neighbor is a grad student at USU and needed participants for a study in which body composition would be measured, as well as VO2 max, and other things. I was able to get my body fat tested in the bod pod, which is one of the most accurate methods available.
 |
| This is a bod pod. Obviously that's not me, but it gives you an idea of what it is. |
To give you an idea of what I was expecting....
-In January, my scale said I was 44% body fat...eek!
-In January, the Omron hand held device said my body fat was 37%
So I discovered my scale was anywhere from 4-7% off.
Yesterday morning my scale said I was 34% body fat. So I figured my real percentage had to be in the upper 20s. I don't think I've ever had my BF% less than 30, so my goal was for it to be 29 or less. I would've been THRILLED with anything less than 30.
So we did the analysis...and I got SHOCKING results...
My body fat percentage is: 21.8%!!!!!
I am seriously doubting the accuracy of that bod pod! I NEVER would have guess that it was that low! Still in disbelief, I quickly grabbed an Omron and used that to see if it was way off. Yesterday, the Omron said my percentage was 25%. A little difference between it and the bod pod, but not a questionable amount. Either way, my body fat is 25% or less!
Oh happy day!
Monday, April 30, 2012
Ripped in 30
I am finished with Ripped in 30. I lost 10 pounds during the last four
weeks and many inches. I have updated my current weight and
measurements into the chart if you want to see specifics.
Today I started a new weight lifting program. Besides these videos, I have stuck only to cardio up to this point. But now I am going to lift 3 times a week as I do the program outlined in "The New Rules of Lifting for Women". If you are interested in lifting weights, this book is a must read. It is a 6 month program and hopefully by the end of it I'll be much stronger and looking good.
**I feel like most (if not all) of the weight I've lost has been from my waist up. My hips and legs really haven't changed that much, so I'm really hoping that weight lifting can help that along.
 |
| Before Ripped in 30 |
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| After Ripped in 30 |
**I feel like most (if not all) of the weight I've lost has been from my waist up. My hips and legs really haven't changed that much, so I'm really hoping that weight lifting can help that along.
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Proud Moment
Do you remember how Wednesday was a bit of a rough day for me? Well that rough day poured into the rest of the week. Will woke up earlier than usual this morning and I had a pounding headache. I was determined to go running, but my head hurt, by body hurt, and I wanted sleep!
Luckily Lance woke up and I was able to take a short nap on the couch. I woke up around 9:30am and decided I was feeling well enough to try for a run.
I'm trying to always make Saturday my long runs. Last Saturday, I ran my 4.75 miles for my furthest distance ever. My only goal for today was to try and beat it, even if it was only by a little tiny bit. I figured I'd run a little slower and push for more distance.
Using my favorite running app Endomondo on my phone, I began running. And I kept running. And my legs hurt. And I kept running. And I felt like I was going to throw up a few times. And I kept running.
When I finally allowed myself to look at my time, I had been running for 57 minutes and had beat my goal. But I was determined to not stop there. I made it my new goal to run 60 minutes straight. I had already been running for 57 minutes, what was another 3 minutes, right?
GOAL COMPLETE!
I ran 5.4 miles in 60 minutes. I extremely shocked and pleased with my pace. I figured I was running 5.0mph or less the entire time, so I was stoked to see it was faster than that.
Here is a breakdown:
Mile 1: 10:53
Mile 2: 11:05
Mile 3: 11:09
Mile 4: 11:19
Mile 5: 11:16
This picture was taking after my run. Usually my shirt is pretty much drenched in sweat, but for some reason it wasn't today. Wont find me complaining about that!
Luckily Lance woke up and I was able to take a short nap on the couch. I woke up around 9:30am and decided I was feeling well enough to try for a run.
I'm trying to always make Saturday my long runs. Last Saturday, I ran my 4.75 miles for my furthest distance ever. My only goal for today was to try and beat it, even if it was only by a little tiny bit. I figured I'd run a little slower and push for more distance.
Using my favorite running app Endomondo on my phone, I began running. And I kept running. And my legs hurt. And I kept running. And I felt like I was going to throw up a few times. And I kept running.
When I finally allowed myself to look at my time, I had been running for 57 minutes and had beat my goal. But I was determined to not stop there. I made it my new goal to run 60 minutes straight. I had already been running for 57 minutes, what was another 3 minutes, right?
GOAL COMPLETE!
I ran 5.4 miles in 60 minutes. I extremely shocked and pleased with my pace. I figured I was running 5.0mph or less the entire time, so I was stoked to see it was faster than that.
Here is a breakdown:
Mile 1: 10:53
Mile 2: 11:05
Mile 3: 11:09
Mile 4: 11:19
Mile 5: 11:16
This picture was taking after my run. Usually my shirt is pretty much drenched in sweat, but for some reason it wasn't today. Wont find me complaining about that!
Hope everyone has a GREAT weekend!
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
"Hump Day"
Wednesday's truly are my hump day. For some unknown reason, I always wake up completely exhausted Wednesday mornings. I have to drag myself to the gym and try to get some semblance of a workout in. And even the thought of doing Ripped in 30 is unappealing.
Today was especially rough, but I did what I had to do and made it to the gym. I felt tired, weak, and a bit sore and the last thing I wanted to do was go running. So I decided that even if I just spent an hour walking on a treadmill, it was still better than nothing.
I walked at 14% incline, speed 4.0-4.2 for about 40 minutes. Then I decided I wanted to run a little bit, and figured I should run for one mile at my fastest speed. I tried to stay between 6.0 mph and 6.5 mph, but that only lasted for about 6 minutes before I dropped down to 5.4 mph. I ended up doing a mile in 10:14...about 30 seconds off my fastest time.
My adrenaline from my workout lasted about 2-3 hours. I got home and was feeling great. I ran a few errands and was doing lots of stuff. Then at about 2 o'clock, exhaustion hit again. I pretty much collapsed on the floor and took a quick power nap. And I did not want to get up...ever.
I thought about doing Ripped in 30, but I wasn't sure I had the energy. I thought about it some more and decided that I needed to push myself. I haven't missed a day of Ripped in 30 yet, and I only have 3 days left! Why quit now? That would just be silly! Plus I knew I would be so disappointed in myself if I didn't do it. So I put the DVD in and did it. I'll admit, I didn't push myself as hard as I usually do, but I was still sweating pretty good.
Now it is 6pm and I am feeling great and getting ready to go to volleyball! I know this is a long, boring post...but the moral of the story is that YOU ARE CAPABLE! You are capable of working out! You are capable of pushing yourself hard! Sometimes when we don't have motivation, that's when it's most important to just do it anyways.
Wednesdays are usually my rough day...in the morning at least. But I know that if I can just push through and get past those workouts, then I'll be feeling great and the rest of my week will fly by. I don't feel tired or lacking energy, in fact I'm pumped to go play some sports!
Just remember, YOU ARE CAPABLE of amazing things! Whenever you come to the top of your hill and you feel like you can't make it, push just a little harder and think how great it'll be once your on the other side.
Today was especially rough, but I did what I had to do and made it to the gym. I felt tired, weak, and a bit sore and the last thing I wanted to do was go running. So I decided that even if I just spent an hour walking on a treadmill, it was still better than nothing.
I walked at 14% incline, speed 4.0-4.2 for about 40 minutes. Then I decided I wanted to run a little bit, and figured I should run for one mile at my fastest speed. I tried to stay between 6.0 mph and 6.5 mph, but that only lasted for about 6 minutes before I dropped down to 5.4 mph. I ended up doing a mile in 10:14...about 30 seconds off my fastest time.
My adrenaline from my workout lasted about 2-3 hours. I got home and was feeling great. I ran a few errands and was doing lots of stuff. Then at about 2 o'clock, exhaustion hit again. I pretty much collapsed on the floor and took a quick power nap. And I did not want to get up...ever.
I thought about doing Ripped in 30, but I wasn't sure I had the energy. I thought about it some more and decided that I needed to push myself. I haven't missed a day of Ripped in 30 yet, and I only have 3 days left! Why quit now? That would just be silly! Plus I knew I would be so disappointed in myself if I didn't do it. So I put the DVD in and did it. I'll admit, I didn't push myself as hard as I usually do, but I was still sweating pretty good.
Now it is 6pm and I am feeling great and getting ready to go to volleyball! I know this is a long, boring post...but the moral of the story is that YOU ARE CAPABLE! You are capable of working out! You are capable of pushing yourself hard! Sometimes when we don't have motivation, that's when it's most important to just do it anyways.
Wednesdays are usually my rough day...in the morning at least. But I know that if I can just push through and get past those workouts, then I'll be feeling great and the rest of my week will fly by. I don't feel tired or lacking energy, in fact I'm pumped to go play some sports!
Just remember, YOU ARE CAPABLE of amazing things! Whenever you come to the top of your hill and you feel like you can't make it, push just a little harder and think how great it'll be once your on the other side.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Buffalo Chicken
I made this recipe for dinner on Sunday and boy was it good! I love it because it is SO simple. It only has 3 ingredients and requires hardly any work. That's my kind of meal! Did I also mention that it is low calorie?
Buffalo Chicken
-4 chicken breasts (I used about 20 oz of chicken)
-2/3 bottle Buffalo marinade (I used KC Masterpiece Hot Buffalo marinade)
-One packet of dry ranch mix (I used Kroger Fat Free Party Ranch Dip)
Put the chicken in the bottom of the crock pot. Pour 2/3 of the buffalo sauce over the chicken, then add the packet of dry ranch mix. Mix it together. Cook on low for about 5-6 hours. Shred the chicken with a fork. Then cook for an additional hour.
Nutritional Facts:
-Calories: 191 per serving
-Carbs: 10g per serving
-Fats: 3g per serving
-Protein: 30g per serving
These nutritional facts are based on the recipe making 4 servings. But I found afterwards, that those are HUGE servings. I made 2 mini roll sandwiches and only used half a serving.
And that's it! Another of my favorite things about this dish is that I think it's so versatile. For Sunday, we used dinner rolls to make little sandwiches with them.The next day, Lance decided to make some rice and put the chicken over rice. I bet it would also be good in a wrap or burrito. Or you could simply add a little cheese. So many possibilities.
I made a sandwich using about 2/3 of a serving of the buffalo chicken and put it on a Kroger Sandwich Thin. And I had a large salad to go with it. Lately, my absolute favorite thing in a salad is frozen peas. So my salad consists of romaine lettuce, 1/3 cup peas, and 2 tablespoons ranch dressing.
An important piece of this meal is the bread. An average slice of bread is around 100 calories. So if you wanted to make a sandwich, that would be at least 200 calories for just the bread alone. So I found these great bread replacements and I love them. Sandwich Thins. Basically two really thin pieces of bread. The reason they are awesome? For the whole bun (2 pieces) it's only 90 calories! I use these for everything. I use them for deli sandwiches, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, a bun for my turkey burgers, etc. They are a must.
The most important thing is probably the Ranch Dressing. I found this dressing a few weeks ago and I am in LOVE! Normal ranch dressing has about 150 calories for a 2 TBSP serving. That is ridiculous! So for the past few months, I've been using fat free ranch, which has about 50-60 calories per serving. But it tastes terrible! I've learned to somehow tolerate it though. Until I found this amazing dressing. This dressing is only 45 calories per serving AND IT TASTES GREAT!!! Wahoo! Now I can pile on the ranch and not have to worry about adding 1000 calories.
Buffalo Chicken
-4 chicken breasts (I used about 20 oz of chicken)
-2/3 bottle Buffalo marinade (I used KC Masterpiece Hot Buffalo marinade)
-One packet of dry ranch mix (I used Kroger Fat Free Party Ranch Dip)
Put the chicken in the bottom of the crock pot. Pour 2/3 of the buffalo sauce over the chicken, then add the packet of dry ranch mix. Mix it together. Cook on low for about 5-6 hours. Shred the chicken with a fork. Then cook for an additional hour.
-Calories: 191 per serving
-Carbs: 10g per serving
-Fats: 3g per serving
-Protein: 30g per serving
These nutritional facts are based on the recipe making 4 servings. But I found afterwards, that those are HUGE servings. I made 2 mini roll sandwiches and only used half a serving.
And that's it! Another of my favorite things about this dish is that I think it's so versatile. For Sunday, we used dinner rolls to make little sandwiches with them.The next day, Lance decided to make some rice and put the chicken over rice. I bet it would also be good in a wrap or burrito. Or you could simply add a little cheese. So many possibilities.
To give you an idea of what my dinner looked like tonight:
I made a sandwich using about 2/3 of a serving of the buffalo chicken and put it on a Kroger Sandwich Thin. And I had a large salad to go with it. Lately, my absolute favorite thing in a salad is frozen peas. So my salad consists of romaine lettuce, 1/3 cup peas, and 2 tablespoons ranch dressing.
An important piece of this meal is the bread. An average slice of bread is around 100 calories. So if you wanted to make a sandwich, that would be at least 200 calories for just the bread alone. So I found these great bread replacements and I love them. Sandwich Thins. Basically two really thin pieces of bread. The reason they are awesome? For the whole bun (2 pieces) it's only 90 calories! I use these for everything. I use them for deli sandwiches, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, a bun for my turkey burgers, etc. They are a must.
This entire meal....for the sandwich and the salad....was only 336 calories!
Definitely one we'll be making again.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
A Good Wednesday
Every Wednesday at the Sports Academy, me and a group of women get together to play volleyball. It's hard to describe how much I love playing volleyball. It's that much. It's honestly something I look forward to so much. It gives me a little break from Will, gives me interaction time with other women, plus it gives me a little exercise. Who wouldn't love that? So if you need me on a Wednesday night, you know where to find me.
But this picture just made my Wednesday even better. Want to know why? Because I went shopping today and got this new jacket for a great price. And although the price made me happy, something else made me way happier. The size. This jacket is a size...wait for it...wait for it...SMALL! Now I know that it's probably wrongly sized or just some random fluke, but I don't care! I don't think I've ever worn a small (or medium for that matter) in my life. When I was a kid going into juniors, I skipped straight to large or extra large. So this was an awesome small little victory for me! Now if only I could get my hips and legs to start shrinking....
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